Wednesday, May 18, 2022

A Day Date In The Deep South


It's been a very pleasant day here in Jefferson County, Florida. I spent a leisurely morning replacing some overall strap hardware and taking up a dress a few inches. I'd been meaning to get around to those things for awhile now and it's nice to have them done. 

Mr. Moon had errands in town this morning and didn't get back until it was time to leave to go to Monticello to get our second boosters. It was another excellent experience there with a nurse who's shot-giving abilities were the best I've ever personally encountered. I swear- I felt almost nothing and certainly no pain. Glen said the same. Taking the band-aid off later hurt far more than the jab had. 

Since neither one of us had eaten lunch we decided to drop into the Rev and get our lunch there. A date! We were on a date. They were out of my favorite chicken salad so I got a Greek salad as did Mr. Moon. Our server, who bore a passing resemblance to Chloe Sevigny was brand new and when she brought our salads I realized that they had no feta cheese and HELLO! What is a Greek salad without feta cheese? A green salad with some olives and peppers on it, that's what. We pointed this out and she brought us each some feta. Why is it that restaurant salads just get bigger and bigger as you eat them? Have you noticed this? You can eat on that sucker until you're bored with the eating of it and you still seemingly have as much as you did when the plate was put in front of you. 
The people at the table beside us seemed to be discussing the possible running of one of the women for the school board. Or school superintendent. Something. I had a hard time eavesdropping as we were outside and there was lots of ambient traffic noise. 
Note: If you do not want to be eavesdropped on, don't sit next to me. 
She appeared to be making a pitch to a guy whom I heard say that he was born and raised in Jefferson County and I swear he said his folks went back nine generations here but I find that hard to believe. The woman had a sort of pinched face, blond hair that didn't quite know what style it was supposed to be, and had lots to say. I could not figure out if she was affiliated with Republicans or Democrats but then I definitely heard the man ask her, "Do you think you can you work both sides of the aisle?" and she said, "I think so. I can attempt to seem fairly moderate. And as far as I can tell, we don't need the Democrats at all."
All righty then! 
I did not stand up and smack her. You would have been proud of me. 

After lunch we went into Wag the Dog. They had nothing I needed but it was nice to meander about, treasure hunting. Then we crossed the street to an actual antique shop, one that I have talked about before, and spent some time checking out their merchandise. They have very nice stuff and when I'm there I always find myself wishing that I had some empty spaces to fill but the fact is, I really don't. I do have some  stuff that I'd love to replace but is it necessary? No. It is not. 
There's an entire upstairs portion of the store where they keep less valuable things, things that are smaller, and we trudged up there to check it out. They have sold the chaise lounge that I really thought I wanted at one point and then decided I did not and my heart did not hurt to see it gone. When I had explored all the spaces and rooms up there, I took the picture you see above. There is something that feels very good about that upstairs area. I could be all wrong about this but to me, I get a sense of light-heartedness about it. As if happy people had lived there. I hope so. I am sure that at one point in the building's history, it had been a commercial enterprise downstairs with the family, probably, living upstairs. It's a corner building a block from the courthouse and I bet it was prime property when Monticello was more of a going concern. Red brick, still solid and apparently in decent repair. We didn't find anything to buy there either although I sure could have. There was a large, unusual vase, labeled simply "yellow vase with swirls". It had no markings on it. I'd never seen one like it and I could just see it with a palm frond or a split-leaf philodendron leaf in it on my table in the hallway and now I'm having not-buyer's regret. 
Ah well, I can always go back and get it if it's still there. 

My calf muscle feels better today and I think that resting it has been good for it. I am already starting to feel the effects of the booster, I think. A bit achy and tired. It's starting to get really hot here. Spring has taken its bow, the curtain has lowered on it and is rising again to the appearance of summer. There is only a smattering of applause from the audience as we wipe our brows and dream of rivers and springs. Hurricane season begins on June 1 and as always, we know that we must become observant and wary.

Here's a magnolia that Jessie picked for me yesterday from a tree beside our garden that I always forget is even there. 


Now to me, that is beauty. 

Love...Ms. Moon




32 comments:

  1. The magnolia blossom is stunning.

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  2. Another lovely post from the loveliest lady in Lloyd... But Jefferson County? How awkward in live in a county named after a slave owner, persecutor of Native Americans and probable sex predator. How much more comfortable to rename it Keystone County and forget Jefferson.

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    1. Oh, Mr. P. The strangeness of living in the south in the US is sometimes just overwhelmingly weird. And embarrassing. At least I don't live in Jackson County. As if that would make any difference.

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  3. I'm having a hard time keeping up with blogs, working and working in the garden seem to eat up my time but it is nice to catch up. That antique store is the kind I like to wander around in, just drinking up all the different things to see.

    Nice for you and Mr. Moon to have a date lunch. We took my mother in law out for lunch today and had a lovely time. My father in law remains up and down from day to day. Time will tell.

    That flower, omg, it's so beautiful!

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    1. Honey- whenever you have the choice of gardening or reading blogs- GARDEN! You have a very full and busy life.

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  4. Such a perfectly lovely day you had! The magnolia is perfection.

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    1. It was a nice day. And that magnolia was extra beautiful. It's now brown and drying. Sigh.

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  5. OMG ... That magnolia blossom is so beautiful! So creamy white, the scent must be amazing!

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  6. I can visualize a happy family living over that shop. And the magnolia is way more lovely than our pink magnolia.

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    1. What you guys call "magnolias" we call "Japanese magnolias" and we have those too. They are lovely but none can compare with the magnolia grandiflora.

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  7. being efficient, i got my booster and my first shingles dose at the same time in the same arm. i was down for the count about 24 hours and had a bruise for a week. i hope yours goes easy with just the one jab!

    xxalainaxx

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    1. I am just really looking forward to the shingles vax. (Haha!) Well, at least you did get 'em both done and over with in one go.

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  8. so far so good with your booster. the magnolia is stunning. I think you should go back and buy the yellow vase, since it caught your eye. Glad your calf is somewhat OK today
    Susan M

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  9. It is indeed. I hope you are feeling better.

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    1. It's been a bit of a gnarly day but we're feeling better now.

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  10. magnolia blossom is a work of art I must say, they are astonishing blossoms!
    The fourth booster did not effect me until two days later, all of the others had no effect at all. Just give yourself permission to lay low for a day.I am sorry you left the vase in the shop- I can never pass up a great vase. I have the same quirk.
    Also , yes, I have noticed that about salad...

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    1. And when you consider that the blossom is as big as a dinner plate- it truly is amazing. Our boosters have been quite apparent today and I am hoping that by tomorrow the effects will have passed.
      Yeah! What is it about endless salads?

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  11. When we lived in Pittsburgh we went to a place called Fatty Gatty's (I should have known better) and I ordered what I thought was a small salad. When it came I assumed it was for the whole table but nope, that baby was just for me - it was huge! And I know that feeling of regret at not "needing" any more stuff too. When I lived in Geneva I had a studio - it was large but a studio nevertheless - and it got to the point that in my heart I just knew it didn't need anything else. Now all I need is to get rid of stuff! Oh and I hope the booster treats you kindly. I'm not surprised you're feeling tired though!

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    1. I've had salads like that- bigger than what I'd make for my entire family. Why?
      I have a pretty big house and honestly, I could cram more stuff in it but I really do not want to. But I wouldn't mind exchanging some of it!

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  12. I admire your forbearance in not interrupting that overheard conversation. "I can attempt to seem fairly moderate"???? Sheesh.

    Beautiful magnolia! I'm glad your leg is better. I love your bit about the smattering of applause as the curtain rises on summer. :)

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    1. Thank you, Steve. I think that being in Monticello and seeing the Opera House reminded me of the stage days. I think I miss them.
      Yeah. That woman in the restaurant can, as my friend Brian used to so elegantly say, "Bite me."

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  13. I hope that vase is still there when you go back. I'm glad your leg is feeling better, but sad at the thought of hurricane season. The magnolia is beautiful.

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    1. Oh, that vase would probably still be there. I'm pondering it.

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  14. You wonder why they ever have to make any new things ever again when you wander around a resale or antique store! So much stuff ready to fill all the homes there could be!
    It is fun to look, tho, and I often feel smugly happy when I resist purchases these days. Glad your calf is better!

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    1. I have that same thought, Ellen! Dang but there's a lot of stuff here on earth! And it is fun to look at things, isn't it? Some of it, anyway.

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  15. I am proud of you. For all sorts of reasons. I hope school board lady pretending to be moderate loses big. So there.

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  16. That previous commenter is 37P once again forgetting to say who anonymous is. I wish Blogger would just recognize me!

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